NRNP 6645 Week 10 Assignment – Therapy For Clients With Personality Disorders Example Narcissistic Personality Disorder

NRNP 6645 Week 10 Assignment – Therapy For Clients With Personality Disorders Example Narcissistic Personality Disorder

NRNP 6645 Week 10 Assignment – Therapy For Clients With Personality Disorders Example

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a multifaceted and often misunderstood psychiatric disorder that impacts individuals’ self-perception and social interactions. Marked by pervasive grandiosity, a profound urge for recognition, and diminished empathy, this disorder can substantially affect personal and professional relationships.

Comprehending this psychiatric condition is essential for its effective treatment and management. This paper examines the DSM-5 diagnostic guidelines for NPD, outlines a therapeutic approach and modality, and underscores the significance of preserving a therapeutic alliance while communicating the diagnosis. The objective is to offer a holistic comprehension of NPD and strategies for its clinical management.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder: DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria

NPD is characterized by a persistent pattern of grandiosity, an intense desire for admiration, and a profound lack of empathy toward others. As per the diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5, NPD involves a grandiose sense of self-importance, such as exaggerating one’s achievements and abilities and expecting to be recognized as superior without commensurate accomplishments (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Schalkwijk et al., 2021).

A preoccupation with fantasies of unbridled success, power, brilliance, beauty, or idealized love characterizes individuals with NPD. They maintain a belief that they are exceptional and distinct and can only be comprehended by or associated with other special or high-status persons or institutions. Additionally, these individuals demand excessive adulation and exhibit a sense of entitlement, which is evidenced by unreasonable expectations of preferential treatment or automatic compliance with their expectations (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; (Schalkwijk et al., 2021).

Furthermore, these individuals demonstrate interpersonally exploitative conduct, leveraging others to accomplish their own objectives. They exhibit a deficiency in empathy, being reluctant to acknowledge or relate to the feelings and needs of others. Moreover, they may harbor envy towards others or perceive that others are envious of them, and they exhibit arrogant and conceited behaviors or attitudes.

Therapeutic Approach and Modality

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has proven to be an effective treatment approach for individuals diagnosed with NPD. This therapeutic modality concentrates on identifying and challenging maladaptive thought patterns and beliefs that perpetuate narcissistic behaviors. Through CBT, clients are able to recognize how their cognitions and actions influence their interpersonal relationships, which in turn facilitates the cultivation of more adaptive and empathetic modes of interaction (Carreiras et al., 2024).

Individual therapy is particularly well-suited for clients diagnosed with NPD, as it enables personalized attention to their distinctive cognitive processes and behaviors. As Carreiras et al. (2024) further note, this therapeutic modality facilitates a more in-depth examination of narcissistic characteristics and their influence on the client’s life and interpersonal relationships. The evidence-based efficacy of CBT and its individualized approach offer a supportive environment for clients to confront and alter their problematic behaviors.

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